The Live Comedy Association’s (LCA) work lobbying politicians and government has prompted MP members of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to call on Sir Chris Bryant MP (Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism) to formally recognise live comedy as a distinct art form. In a landmark letter from the committee, Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP writes that following a “compelling proposal” from the LCA, the committee discussed live comedy at a State of Play evidence session earlier this year. The letter goes on to say that this should mean increased engagement by CMS with the sector and with Arts Council England on how it considers and funds live comedy. The full letter can be found www.livecomedyassociation.co.uk
The letter, published today, includes evidence submitted at the committee meeting held in parliament earlier this year. It also includes data from the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey Report published in February and based on the first survey carried out in 2024. The second live comedy survey is currently being carried out and the deadline for submissions is 23:59, 18th August 2025. The survey, produced by the LCA in partnership with Centre for Comedy Studies Research (Brunel University London) and British Comedy Guide, can be found by visiting www.comedysurvey.co.uk
Included in the letter are calls for a roundtable meeting between Ministers and members of the live comedy sector from across the UK. In a letter sent to Chris Bryant MP, Directors of the LCA have offered to support this meeting by inviting members to attend. The letter also references the need for the Government to work with funding bodies to establish an independent, accurate assessment of the size and distribution of the live comedy sector. Discussing the progress that has been made by the live music sector in generating money from an “arena levy”, the committee states that it hopes “the Government shares our view there is a strong case for the biggest venues, producers and promoters to voluntarily mirror the grassroots music levy across all forms of stadium and arena entertainment, including comedy.”
Jessica Toomey, co-chair of the LCA, said “we are absolutely taking a moment to celebrate what is a landmark moment for UK live comedy. In the past there have been similar statements of support for comedy, but this letter explicitly states support for live comedy and the entire live comedy sector.
It also demonstrates the importance of the LCA’s annual live comedy sector survey, which helps provide crucial data on the sector’s overall size and impact. Whilst many people working across our sector are attending the Edinburgh Fringe, we hope they will join us in our moment of celebration and also continue to work with us to improve things for everyone working in our sector.”
Included in the letter are pleas to include those working in the live comedy sector in broader government work focusing on freelancers, major events (including Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). There are also calls for further work to be carried out to examine the role live comedy can play in improving lives and be part of a wider conversation about creative health.
